He says the current system does not fairly treat people of color, addicts or the mentally ill.

If elected president, Sanders says he'd abolish mandatory minimum sentencing, end the "three strikes law" and expand the use of alternative sentencing.

The plan would legalize marijuana and expunge previous marijuana convictions, and end a cash bail system that Sanders says keeps hundreds of thousands who have not been convicted of a crime languishing in jail because they cannot afford bail.

On capital punishment, Sanders' plan formalizes his call to end the federal death penalty and urges states to eliminate the punishment.